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| Social
Welfare graduate Jackie Davis, center, celebrates during
UWT's 15th commencement ceremony last Friday. Davis was
one of 28 Social Welfare graduates. At left is Social
Welfare student Christiane Smith. |
Raindrops
and teardrops at 15th Commencement
This
spring, nearly 850 students graduated from UWT. About 630
of those graduates crossed the stage at UWT's 15th commencement
ceremony last Friday, June 10, at the Western Washington Fairground
in Puyallup.
Some
light rain fell, but the weather stayed mostly clear for UWT's
first-ever outdoor ceremony. Former Gov. Gary Locke, grandson
of a Chinese immigrant who worked as a housekeeper in exchange
for English lessons, gave a stirring speech about the value
of education in his family. UWT Chancellor Patricia Spakes
and UW President Mark Emmert presided over their first UW
commencement.
The
Chancellor's Medalist was Chad Japhet, an IAS graduate with
a concentration in American Studies.
$500,000
investment from city completes commitments for endowed chair
The
Tacoma City Council on Tuesday agreed to invest $500,000 to
support UWT's Port of Tacoma endowed chair in Environmental
Science.
The
agreement fully endows the chair, which is also being funded
by investments of $1 million from the Port of Tacoma and $500,000
from SSA Marine. The University of Washington will provide
$1 million in matching funds to fully endow the $3 million
faculty chair to teach and coordinate research for the proposed
Urban Waters marine center. Thursday, the Port of Tacoma agreed
to pay their pledge to UWT outright, instead of in five annual
installments as originally planned.
The
$1 million UW match comes from a matching fund created by
donors to support the $2 billion UW capital campaign.
"The
City's contribution brings a long-held dream a lot closer
to reality for many in our community," UWT Chancellor
Patricia Spakes said. "This will initially allow us to
hire a world-class scientist and administrator in the area
of environmental science. This expert will lead a program
that will not only help us protect and enhance our natural
resources, but will help drive economic development in our
region."
Cuba
exchange program to begin this winter
University
of Washington students now have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
to study extensively in Cuba as part of a new exchange program
between UW Tacoma and the University of Cienfuegos.
The
governments of Cuba and the United States have formally approved
the program, which will allow students to spend 10 weeks immersed
in Cuban culture in Cienfuegos, a maritime city on Cuba's
southern coast, starting in Winter Quarter 2006. UWT is one
of only three U.S. universities with exchange programs in
Cuba.
In
the past, Associate Professor Cynthia Duncan has taken UWT
students on one-week trips to Cienfuegos. New U.S. laws prohibit
student visits to Cuba lasting fewer than 10 weeks. The extended
schedule required serious modifications to the old exchange
program.
"Most
students can do anything for a week, but 10 weeks is much
more profound," Duncan said. "They'll be living
in a developing country where they won't always have hot water
and electricity. I believe anyone who lives like this for
a while will learn a lot about their own resilience, interactions,
culture and values system."
Students
in the program will study Spanish language, Cuban culture,
history and society and the psychology of cultural transition.
In addition, they will work with tutors on an individual research
project. Participants will live with Cuban families and should
expect to live as the Cubans live in order to have a full
exchange experience.
Cuban
students are expected to visit UWT in 2007.
Only
full-time, degree-seeking UW students will be accepted into
the program. Incoming freshmen or transfer students with fewer
than 20 hours of UW credit may not participate. The U.S. government
does not permit UW staff or alumni to attend, and participants
are not allowed to bring family members or friends unless
they are full-time, degree-seeking UW students.
Nursing
gives alumni, community awards
The
UWT Nursing Program gave its second Alumni Award to state
Rep. Dawn Morrell, D-Puyallup, and Community Partner Award
to the Sumner School District at the Master of Nursing hooding
ceremony last week in Carwein Auditorium.
Morrell,
who graduated cum laude in 1995 with a bachelor of
science in nursing, works as a critical care nurse at Good
Samaritan Community Hospital in Puyallup. A strong supporter
of the UWT nursing program, Morrell is vice chair of the health
care committee in the House of Representatives. Her legislative
priorities include investing in education and affordable health
care.
The
Sumner School District was recognized for its partnership
with the Nursing program to help educate UWT community health
students. Nurses from UW Tacoma spend weeks each year assessing
the health of the Sumner and Bonney Lake communities, studying
affordable housing, homelessness, community assets and underage
drinking. The results of their studies are used in city and
school district planning, and the partnership has led to the
creation of grants that support programs in Sumner. The school
district and the City of Sumner have played an important role
in this project.
Expansion
of UWT campus nets headlines
The potential for UW Tacoma to acquire six acres of land adjacent
to campus is generating a lot of interest by news media.
The
property is located near the southwestern corner of the UWT
campus footprint and is bordered by Jefferson and Tacoma avenues
between 21st and 23rd streets. The City of Tacoma had purchased
the property for a new police station but chose another site
for that project. The city is considering selling some of
its surplus land and is exploring ways to gain the best value
for the city from the six-acre parcel.
The
land caught the interest of the News Tribune when a local
real estate agent approached the city about purchasing the
property for $5.1 million with a plan to build condos and
retail outlets. City officials told the real estate agent
the property was being considered for UWT, according to the
paper. The News Tribune articles, columns and editorials have
focused on whether the property should be sold to a private
developer or become part of the UWT campus. They have also
reported on the process by which city officials communicated
with UWT about the future of the property.
Faculty
and Staff Notes
Assistant
Professor Stern Neill (Milgard School of
Business) and UWT Alumni Association President Sunday
Tollefson have been recognized in the Business Examiner's
annual "40 Under 40" publication. The Tacoma publication
annually recognizes 40 outstanding young business leaders
in the South Sound. A recognition event will be held June
22. Visit the Business
Examiner Web site for more information.
Beth
Jeffrey has been hired as an admissions specialist
in Student Affairs. Her first day is June 20.
Tyler
Wilson has been hired as a graphic designer in Advancement.
He has been working in the position on a part-time basis since
March 2004. His first day as a full-time, permanent employee
will be July 1.
Administrative
Snapshot: A look at issues and projects at UWT
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